Screw Driver Mysteries.....

Tightening screws can be bugging at times. You keep rotating the screw driver and the screw refuses to tighten!!

With the Screw Driver Mysteries solved, you can actually get the task done in a few seconds rather than minutes. I have listed a few for you:

1. Right Direction : All screws tighten in the clockwise direction and loosen in the anti-clockwise direction.

2. Right Tip: The tip of the screw driver should be almost equal to the size of the screw's head. This makes sure all the force you apply is directed at the right place.

3. Right Size: Choose your screw driver depending on how much power you require. For more power, use one with a short shank (the part between the tip and the handle) .

If you have resolved any more Mysteries, feel free to share them!

Diwali Celebration

We had a great Diwali Celebration at our office on Thursday. As it turns out, we are not only good at designing Robots but also at Rangolis :). Well find it hard to believe check the picture below:

IRC 2010 Problem Statement

Hey Friends!

So you are worried about the IRC-2010? Well, the arena dimensions are here. This would give help in designing the robot according to the track's dimensions.

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CWG Robotics Camps this October!

CWG Robotics Camps this October!

Magical Torque......

In the post At the Right Angle, I talked about the definition of force and its application in Robotic Arm and Base. In today's post, I will talk about how Torque can create magic!!

We need to apply a bit of mathematics here to understand the magic.

Torque is calculated by the formula:
T = F*d

T is the torque
F is the force applied perpendicular (at 90 deg.) to the axis
d is the distance

By using the above formula, we can calculate torque for Geared systems. Lets, take the example of the gear system below:

Here, we have attached a gear system with a pulley. Let us assume the load on the pulley is 1 kg and the diameter of the pulley is 1 inch. Then the torque would be:

T= F* d = 1 kg * 1 inch = 1 kg-inch

Now, what would be the torque on the Big Gear? The torque transferred on the Big Gear would also be 1kg-inch. This is because the torque remains constant on the shaft, and is transferred to the big gear.

The next step is to calculate the force on contact point B. We know the Torque is 1 kg-inch and the diameter of the Big Gear 1 inch. So,

F = T/d = 1 kg-inch * 1 inch = 1 kg

So now lets calculate the torque on the motor. The force on the Small Gear is 1 kg and its diameter is 1/4 inch. The resultant torque on the motor shaft is:

T= F * d = 1 kg * 1/4 inch = 1/4 kg-inch

Did you see the magic happen?
Torque at motor = 1/4 kg - inch
Torque at Pulley = 1 kg- inch!!

Torque increases magically, but only if we put the gear systems right!

Innovation is Here!

Hi Friends,

Here is an innovative robot designed by Sahil Rastogi (RDPS). This is a Robotic Claw that can grip objects.

If you have some interesting designs to show to us, mail us at bulo@buildingblocks.in with your name, school and age.

The Powerful Trio

Okay, so your robotic arm does not pick heavy objects and you cant keep adding Gear Systems (there are really expensive!). So what do you do?

Maybe, you should use the Powerful Trio - Force, Surface Area and Pressure into use. Let me first give you the definitions of the three concepts:

Surface Area: A mathematical term that tells us how much surface is exposed
Force: Any external influence that makes an object move.
Pressure: Force applied per unit area.

Using all three, you can spread the force to an area. Lets take an example of this object lifter:

This lifter has a cool gear system. But notice the Arm is attached through the small axle. It has a small area of contact on the Long L Clip.

Less the surface area, more is the net pressure on the area of contact. And the resultant force on the shaft of the motor makes it difficult to pick objects.

Here's the solution. Design the robot in such a way so that the pressure is distributed to different contact points.

This Object Lifter can lift greater load as we now have two points of contact where pressure is well distributed.

The Powerful Trio definitely makes your robot more powerful!!

At the Right Angle

What is Torque?

Torque is a force that tends to rotate objects. Any rotating body has three parts:

1. Origin of axis: The point around which the body rotates.

2. Distance of arm : The origin and the point at which force is applied

3. Angle of force: The angle between the arm and force applied.

The angle of force is very crucial. Any force directed parallel to the particle’s position vector does not produce torque.

Torque is applied in various parts of the robot:

1. The robot base:

If you require the robot base to move, we need to turn the robot. The torque at the base depends on the force applied by the motor. Force is a function of mass and acceleration. Hence both speed of the motor and weight of the robot matter in the robot base.

2. The robot arm:

The concept of torque is important in a robot arm. Here torque is generally applied on the shaft of the motor. We can increase the torque in the arm using Gear Systems. The application of gear systems is given in another document.

So next time you design a robot, remember to keep the angle right!!

Robotic Arm - One Degree of Motion

Hi,

Here's a Robotic Arm with 1 degree of motion.

This model has been created with the BuLo Robotronics Lite robotics kit.

Degrees of Freedom

Degree of Freedom(DOF) is a very important concept in robotics. A robot arm can have movement either in one, two or three dimensions. Based on the the movement, the robot arm can have the following Degrees of movements:

1. One dimension will have one degree of freedom. This means it can only change its location form one point to another. Similar to a sliding door.
2. Two dimensions will have three degrees of freedom. The object can change its as well as rotate along an axis.Similar to a pendulum.
   
3. Three dimensions will have six degrees of freedom. The object can move as well as rotate along all three axis. Similar to a human hand.

So, while you are creating robotic arms, do keep the DOF in mind!

Ball Thrower Design

The above design is a ball thrower that can pick up a ball and throw in different directions. You can make this robotics design amongst many others using Robotronics LITE.

what's on your mind?

Ok! so we have talked a lot abt our Robotics designs on this blog so far? We would love to hear your ideas on the same? If you are based out of Delhi and are interested in Robotics, we may have the answers for you :).

What kind of robot do you want to make today? Let us know! by writing a comment below:

Robotronics Lite - New Design!!!

Hi friends!
Here is a new design created with the BuLo Robotronics Lite robotics kit.

This robot is called a Fork Lifter. The task of this robot is to pick up boxes.
You can also share your Robtoronics Lite designs with us! Maybe we can feature your model at our blog!!

Robotics Fun in Bloom School!

We just began The Robomania wworkshop at the Bloom Public School, Vasant Vihar. The kids at the workshop were excited about the concept of Robotics. They also gave me a few suggestions on robots which I would like to share:

...robot that could carry a school bag fro the me

...Ma'am , can we make a dancing robot today?

...I want to design robots that can help my mom!!!

Which such creative ideas, I am pretty sure that these kids will do wonders in the field of robotics!

What's a Robot??

We just had demo on Robotics at the Mt. Carmel School and had an interesting point to note - kids are more informed about robotics than I am!!!

We had a small talk on what robots are and how they work, and I asked the kids if a fan is a robot. Mostly, the answer was no - it does not have intelligence.

But one kid answered "Ma'am, but it still has intelligence.When we turn the switch on"

Well, he has a point. The fan is intelligent enough to start moving when we turn on the switch.
But this puts us in a dilema, what exactly is a robot?

Joseph Engelberger, a pioneer in industrial robotics, once remarked: "I can't define a robot, but I know one when I see one." (quoted from Wikipedia -did some googling on it)

While we all have our own ways of defining a robot, there is one thing that I am sure - everyone loves robots around them!!!!

The Soccer Fever is still on!!!

The FIFA world cup has now come to an end, but the soccer fever is still on at BuLo!!!
Watch out for the Soccer Bot Competition at our Facebook fan page!

Robomania - Learning by Doing

Robomania at East of Kailash

You may remember what you read, but you'll never forget what you do. Robomania is a robotics workshop where you make robots while working practically on Science, Mathematics and Computer Science!!
For a Robomania Workshop /Seminar a your school, visit www.bulo.in or call 9818403093.

Brand new motors in Robotronics Lite!

Soccer Bots in Action

Robot making is made easy wih BuLo Roboronics Lite. With simple mechnical parts and visual insruction manuals, this robotics kit lets you design robots like Soccer Bot, Gripper and many more!!! Now with high-speed motor!!
To purchase online visit www.bulo.in or call 9818403093

Let's play ROBOTS!!!

Robotornics is India's most popular Robotics kit. The kit has been designed bu BuLo - a company dedicated to designing learning systems for Indian children.

Robotronics kits helps kids to implement Science, Mathematics and Computer Science in a practical way. With this kit, make learning fun and playful!!

Get your child Robotronics Lite and Robotronics Full to give him/her a competitive edge.

To buy BuLo Learning Kits online, visit www.bulo.in or call us at +91-9818403093

I am What I Do

You are not defined by what you read and learn, you are defined by what you do.
Find the cool YOU with Robomania Workshops. Design cool robots yourself and develop your creative and imaginative skills!!!

Robomania Robotics workshop brings you to the most exciting way to implement Science,Mathematics and Computer Science.

To make yourself stand out of the crowd, call +91-9818403093 or mail us at bulo@buildingblocks.in.

Robotronics Lite Robotics Kit

Based on the theme of learning by doing, this robotics kit enables children to design 10 different robot models. Using motors, wheels, gears, etc. make robots that can move,pick and throw!
Hurry! Buy Robotronics Lite before 31st June to avail Introductory Discount! Call +91-9818403093 for more details.

Summer Camps in Noida

Hi,


This summer, for the first time in Noida, Robomania brings a unique wokshop on Robotics. Create robots that can Move, Pick and Throw!!

For registrations at Summer Camp at Noida, call +91-9818403093 or visit www.bulo.in.

Want to design cool robots??

Hi Friends,
Robots can help us in many ways. And if you thought robot making is difficult, think again. The BuLo Robotronics Lite Kit is the ultimate robot designing kit.This kit includes motors,design clips,wheels etc.
With the BuLo Smart Brain and BuLo Controller, you can design actual moving robots!! Buy this kit online at www.bulo.in to avail 10% discount!!